Missoula Personal Injury Blog

The American Association for Cancer Research has presented the results of a study showing that colorectal cancer is being frequently misdiagnosed among young adult patients. Montana residents should know that the symptoms of colorectal cancer include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blood in stool, fatigue and inexplicable weight loss.

Because these symptoms can be mistaken for those of other conditions, and because young patients tend to be healthy, it is understandable that most physicians will not immediately think cancer is behind it all. Patients themselves, unaware that these are the symptoms of colon cancer, may wait until late in life to be screened for it.

There are several important steps to take after a car accident in Montana. If handled correctly, a driver can make it easier for legal liability to be determined and have less trouble filing a car insurance claim. The first step is to remain calm as this can help a motorist remember vital details after the fact. If anyone requires immediate medical care, call 911.

After all emergencies have been attended to, drivers might consider moving the vehicles out of the way of danger. If no danger is present, though, it is best to leave the crash scene as is. The next step is to physically document the crash. The easiest way to do this is by taking pictures of vehicle damage, visible injuries, skid marks and any damaged trees or property.

If you're in the baby boomer generation or older, you may recall taking leisurely Sunday drives with your family as a child. Nowadays, this form of free time activity is not as common, quite possibly because Montana roadways are a lot more dangerous now than they were then. Why? One reason is simply that there are many more cars on the road at any given time than there used to be. Posted speed limits are often higher, as well.

One of the leading factors of increased highway danger, however, is that of distracted driving. You may adhere to all traffic regulations and practice good driving habits that help keep yourself and your passengers safe, but if there's a distracted driver nearby, you and anyone else in the vicinity are at great risk for injury. It's important to be able to recognize signs of distracted driving and also to know where to seek support if a collision occurs.

A common allergy reported by people in Montana and other states seeking medical treatment is penicillin. However, a new study suggests most individuals are not actually allergic to this widely used antibiotic. Published in a leading medical journal, the study concluded that 95 percent of the estimated 32 million people believed to be allergic to penicillin can take this medicine without experiencing reactions. Penicillin is an antibacterial drug with a long history of being used to help patients with bacterial infections.

While the study doesn't give reasons for the tendency to classify individuals as being allergic to penicillin, one possibility is that some children may be mistakenly given this antibiotic for what's really a viral infection. If they have a negative reaction, a doctor may err on the side of caution and consider a patient allergic to this particular medicine. Other times, there may be a desire to reduce the risk of related medical malpractice issues by being overly cautious. Viral infections are also commonly accompanied by rashes, which could be misinterpreted as an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. Additional research suggests that a third of all prescriptions for antibiotics are likely not needed.